Correlation between non-pharmacological therapies and the delay in the development of neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the evidence on the impact of non-pharmacological interventions—cognitive training, games, physical activity, nutritional strategies and brain stimulation—on slowing cognitive and functional decline in neurodegenerative diseases, with emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Literature review: Evidence suggests modest but clinically meaningful benefits of non-pharmacological interventions in dementia / MCI and mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease. Cognitive training tends to improve attention, working memory, and executive functions, with better response in early stages and a need for maintenance strategies. Board games and active video games are promising due to combined cognitive stimulation and social engagement, but studies remain small and heterogeneous. Aerobic and multicomponent exercise shows consistent motor and functional gains in Parkinson’s disease and may support cognition, although results in dementia are mixed. Mediterranean and MIND dietary patterns are associated with slower cognitive decline in observational studies. Neuromodulation is promising, but optimal parameters are not yet established. Final considerations: Non-pharmacological interventions appear to have potential to complement pharmacological treatment and promote more functional ageing, although more robust clinical trials are still required to determine the magnitude and durability of these effects.